EGON WELLESZ : Symphonies Nos. 1 & 8; Symphonischer Epilog (Gottfried Rabl) (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Egon Wellesz's Symphony No. 1 from 1946 isn't too bad. At its best, it's second-rate early Berg and at its worst, it's second-rate late Berg. The Symphony No. 8 from 1969 isn't too good. At its best, it's third-rate late Schoenberg and at its worst, it's fourth-rate late Schoenberg. And the Symphonischer Epilog from 1970 isn't any better -- just more fourth-rate late Schoenberg -- but it is shorter. The performances of Wellesz' symphonies by Gottfried Rabl conducting the Radio Symphonieorchester Wien are more than competent and less than convincing, that is, in tune and in time, but no more than is required by the musicians' professionalism. For listeners who need to know the state of the Austrian symphony after the war, Wellesz is absolutely necessary. For the rest of us, Wellesz is strictly optional. CPO's sound is clean, clear, and warm. by James Leonard